bellevett

long hot summer.

 

we spent a fair amount of time on the road this summer. 

we visited so much family for extended periods of time.

we backpacked.

we canned 75 pounds of roma tomatoes.

we swam.

we wrote, and wrote some more.

we picked berries.

we visited friends.

we made friends.

we played farkle.

i knitted a few sweaters.

i sewed a few shirts.

we tore out our bathroom.

we built half of a new one.

we i are am forcing ourselves to be ok with unfinished projects.

we read books.

and more books.

and we went to the library on days when the heat was unbearable.

we now have a walking, talking, book reading, song singing, art making, train loving little boy.

summer happened, and now i am ready for fall.

as a matter of fact, i have a few bushels of apples on their way to me right now. fall is almost here.

 

I stopped writing and updating this blog after crosby's 1st birthday, mainly because i was spending so much time on the computer, and i needed a limit.  i officially deleted my facebook account and it turns out that i think that was more of a problem than writing a few sentances here on ye old blog. 

facebook never made me feel good like writing a blog post does. 

writing is good for me.

onward and upward.

 

 

 

on top of old smoky, all covered in wool.

that explains our weekend.

 

(above: second 6 hour sweater from more last minute gifts, quick scarf for myself, and infinity scarf)

this past weekend, i pulled off an epic surprise for cody.  we had plans to go camping for the weekend with two friends of ours and their baby.  what he didnt know, is that for months now, i had planned on several more people joining us in the mountains for the weekend for a camping birthday bash complete with chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel icing. 

it was a lazy daisy weekend with lots of cast iron dutch oven cooking (new for his birthday) and delicious micro brews. 

it was a weekend of big fires, short hikes turned long by multiple treacherous creek crossings that claimed the life of a pair of sunglasses, and wool..... lots and lots of wool.  especially for the baby. 

and leaf eating in the sun of course.

 

finally i am in a place in my knitting life where most of my warmest clothes were made by me.  of course, as i have camped for years and years, i have loads of "name brand" warm outdoor gear from all the best outdoor stores.  but there is no warmth like wool warmth that was made yourself. 

heck, even the above shirt that crosby is wearing is an old merino wool icebreakers shirt of mine that i downsized to make into a long sleeve merino shirt for him.  it was the perfect next to skin wool layer for him, along with some merino wool nappy pants. 

i actually took no pictures the entire weekend. all of these pictures were thankfully taken by my good friend carah. 

 

 

the above hat is a new little hat that i made with some leftover spud and chloe outer that i had laying around.  it was the shroom hat pattern and it was free free and free.

oh!  and did i tell you i finally put some buttons on the adorable and awesomely warm levenwick??

i promise myself i will photograph those buttons.  vintage.  glass.  multi colored.  need i say more?

 

what a good weekend with good memories.  and good people.  and good food.  and good beer.  and most importantly good wool.

 

the trip formerly known as beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza-part 2

the handknits.

i lived in handknits.  what is nicer than going on a camping trip and staying warm as a result of your own two hands.  really.

winner of most worn handknit:

the february lady sweater. 

any sweater that looks and fits equally well when pregnant, 5 days postpartum, and a back to normal body deserves an award.  this sweater is a true fav. 

 

2nd place:

 the rhubarb and custard sweater/vest. 

this is by far one of my favorite projects.  it was quick and easy.  super cute on.  snuggly warm. etc. etc.

i sewed up the sides a bit, making it a bit more fitted.  true love.

 

third place:

the unfinished levenwick.

i hastily sewed some buttons on this and threw it in my bag unblocked.  it is so warm and comfy that i knew i needed to bring it.  i just ordered some vintage glass buttons to go on this baby, and i will be extra extra pleased.  i am going to move the buttons over a bit to make it a bit more fitted and help the collar stand up a bit better. 

ravelry links:

february lady

first february lady

rhubarb and custard

levenwick

i obviously trust my handknits.  did you know that i most definitely did not bring a single jacket to wear?  i was supremely warm by way of my merino wool long sleeve undershirts, worn over my dress, and under a wool handknit.

 

 

the trip formerly known as beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza-part 1

this is the trip that is formerly referred to as beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza.

 

actually, all of those activities were achieved on our recent trip to our old digs:

went to favorite local sustainable brewery

went to favorite local yarn shop

went on several hikes

ate some delish food

but there was no palooza.  meaning, a little less of each of the above activities than the former.

we enjoyed a long weekend trip to our former homeland in north carolina.  as usual, we pondered and discussed why we had left there and when we could move back.  we camped in our favorite spot, we hiked along a familiar lake that we hope to spend many a summer on, we bought food at our most favorite local food store, we had familiar conversations- the kind you only have when you are road tripping and away from the constant stimulation that is homelife, and ate our most favorite foods.  we vowed, as always, to spend at least one more day in these spots than we did this year.  a goal that we have achieved each year.

last year, on this same trip, crosby was still in utero- enjoying the splishy splashy life of amniotic fluid and constant bouncing.  this year, he was enjoying the fine life of what can be known as the terrible pain of getting a new tooth.  but this boy stands unshaken if he is outdoors.  he is at his happiest when in nature, and that worked for our benefit during a weekend of teething pain. 

 

 

after a delish brunch on sunday morning, we headed home.  armed with a little r and r, some local organic brews, a few new skeins of yarn, and a few new handknits.

there is something about have a "spot". the place that you go from year to year, month to month, or season to season.  there is something magical about sitting in the same spot, discussing the past and the future of this exact spot.  memories that come back from being in an exact location that you were one year or season ago- memories that do not need a picture or written down words even to jar those memories back to life.

take me home!

for my fall break, Cody and I took a little trip back to our old stomping grounds.

 

we started in Boone, NC.  Ahhhh, the place we love.  and the place that loves us back.

we found a campsite.  a most spectacular campsite, right off of the blue ridge parkway. and we had our own little lake. 

 

we ate at our old favorite places and visited our favorite grocery stores, outdoor stores, and yarn stores.

i might have benefited from the yarn store visits.

the next morning, we woke up, and went on a cold hike, my favorite.

and Cody did some fishing of the fly fishing kind.

 

then we drove east on the blue ridge parkway, but not without first saying goodbye to our little friend, and campsite host. 

we snapped some self portraits and then did some hikes...

 

Linville Falls, Gorge.

i was the queen of layers. and bundling.  it. was. dang. cold.    of course, this was the highest point in the southeastern us afterall.

 

 

we then continued on to asheville.  where we stayed for another few nights.  some camping, some hoteling.

 

and where we ate at our very favorite place.

and where i bought a bit of yarn at this yarn shop. 

oh how we must move back to the nc.  we simply must.

 

 

outdoor love

i really prefer backpacking.  if you want to know the truth.  there is something a little creepy about campsite bathrooms. 

We spent our Labor day weekend at a very remote campground.  and if you can believe this, there was only one other campsite being occupied!  jackpot!

we really wanted to have some luxuries while camping on this particular weekend, so camping it was.  and also, if you want to know the whole truth, i have a tiny obsession with UT football.  so, being in a campsite, we were able to pick up the game on the radio.  that is a not a possibility when we backpack to a backcountry location.  and so, yes, we went camping and listened to football on the radio. 

dear backpacking, soon very soon.

we ate.

we relaxed.

we hiked 6 miles.

we relaxed.

we ate.

we went with our best friends, who are having a baby in November. so the eating was at an all time high for our group.

i knitted.  so close to finishing, yet so far away.  i can see then end, but this sweater has taken a backseat to party planning.

this expression might me a result of some serious energy zapping dog shenanigans that Avett took full part in.

why cant i live where i can hike to this bald daily?  really.  i love a bald.  and so do the dogs.  especially when they get to the top and realize you have a ball.

ultimately, when i realized my hiking dress still fits, i knew it was a perfect weekend.

beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza: part 3

Part 3: Hiking

Bent Creek Research Forest

Nevermind that I woke up on this beautiful Valentines Morning with an insane amount of nausea, aches, and chills.  I was absolutely going for an amazing hike right off the blue ridge parkway.  

Oh, but the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed due to the weather.

So, Bent Creek it is.

 

I name this picture: amber tries to rally and not throw up on herself.

 

 

    

beautiful hike. beautiful day. 

after this i retreated to the hotel to, ahem, inspect the toilet bowl.

beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza: Part 2

Part 2: yarn shops

On our way back from pisgah we spotted a.................  YAAAARNN SHOOPP!

(read with oprah givaway voice.) 

The Black Mountain Yarn Shop

hello.

 

spotted the usual suspects: debbie bliss, malabrigo.  also spotted the new spud and chloe yarn.  Hello love of my life.  but still not quite what i was looking for. 

searching.... searching.......

and then.... spotted several baskets of locally dyed and spun yarn.  (and some of the wool was even local.  umm. yes please.) 

Just what i was looking for....  the all elusive splurge yarn. 

and the next thing i knew, i had several skeins of yarn being wound for me.  and as Cody went to get the car AND as I was paying and about to walk out the door, I couldn't stop myself from JUST. ONE. MORE. SKEIN.

    SOCKS!

If you are near black mountain, N.C., go here immediately!  and I mean now! I heard word of an online shop...... lets hope that comes soon!

stay tuned for part 3.

oh, you didn't read part 1?  its here.  Click it now.

adventure: beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza part 1.

Part 1 of beeryarnhikingfoodpalooza: beer and some food

Asheville, NC 

here is a little history:

a long long time ago: amber and cody moved to Boone, NC and were very happy.  while in Boone, amber and cody enjoyed weekend trips to Asheville, as it was a fairly close destination. amber and cody loved Boone very much.  HAPPINESS!

a series of unfortunate events made it necessary to move back to Knoxville.  SADNESS.

the moral of this story is: we love Western NC. 

so we went on Presidents Day weekend.  and decided to do a make it up as you go beer tour.

First step when we got there:

was into snow.  they had just had a huge snowstorm.  and i forgot my boots!  whhhhhaaattt?  i never go anywhere without my boots.  never ever. 

jollies it is.

 

 

BAr-b-que.  (vegetarian of course. Seitan to be exact)  At Rosetta's. kind of deli-sh.  i would give it a 6 out of 10. the bun was amazing.  
 

Buchi Kombucha Tea on DRAFT.  Absolutely.

 

post digestion thoughts about Rosetta's:  if you haven't been eating or cooking vegetarian for very long, this is the place for you.  most of their menu is stuff that many vegetarians have already perfected at home.  but the menu is large, so there is a chance you can find something you enjoy very much (like the tempalo wings).  I admit I have high expectations for food.  Vegetarian restaurants are by default expensive, so when i go, i want to be wowed.  here is how it breaks down:

• the barb que sauce was excellent.  the seitan was ehhh, just ok.
• the bun was deli-sh.
• the live sauerkraut was amazing.
• overall ambiance: excellent.
• local kombucha on draft: incredible.  sweet and a tiny tang.  perfect in my book.
• when i go back, i will get the tempalo wings with vegan ranch.  (my old standby)  

Pisgah Brewery in Black Mountain: my hero.  theme of the weekend? beer infused with coffee beans. deli sh.  below: valdez

 

behold the glory:

 

in a totally unassuming warehouse building. and to top it off, they have live music. hallelujah.

i get the tiny sips. ummm, this beer is absolutely every bit of 6.8% alcohol.  no way i would drink a whole pint. in the middle of the day. i tasted the chocolate stout, nitro stout, and the brown ale.  we brought back a bunch of 22 oz. for our buds in kville. thats right. i know you wanna be my friend now.

  

topping off our night after some pizza at the thirsty monk: terrapin wake and bake imperial stout.  super nutty and creamy and coffee and mocha and 8.6% alcohol.  

the thirsty monk has an awesome selection of rare beers and some deli-sh mustard but their bartenderettes were less than friendly.  the fellow customers were the only help we found when trying to decide.

   
 above: i am smiling because i have consumed at least 3000 calories today. and the 75% was in beer.  and i don't know it yet, but i will in fact get a stomach flu that will keep me from having to exercise because i will make up for it by not being able to eat for 4 days! 
 
 
tested out the new camera and its settings.  by the way.  

part 2: yarn shop. stay tuned.